Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25021 - The Simpson Collection of Hiberno-Norse and Irish Coinage
Lot: 164

Ireland, Great Rebellion, Issues of the Confederated Catholics, "Blacksmith's" Halfcrown, struck after 15 November 1642, Kilkenny, • CAROLVS [• D • G • MAG • BRI • F]R • ET • HIB .REX., king with sword on horseback facing left, no cross on horse's housings, rev. CHRIS[TO • AV]SPICE • [REGNO •] (I Reign Under the Auspices of Christ), oval shield with arms dividing [C] R, 13.39g, 8h, m.m cross/harp (BMC E.3129 same dies; DF 335; Bull 30 [L-7]; S.6557A) not struck up on horse's head and correspondingly on reverse, otherwise with an exceptional portrait of the Equestian king, truly much as struck on a full-weight flan, a most pleasing and bolder very fine, very rare thus

Provenance

The John Noel Simpson Collection of English, Irish and Hiberno-Norse Coins



Following the increase in racial and religious discrimination against the native Irish population during the first third of the seventeenth century, an open rebellion exploded in October 1641 as two Protestant Lords Justices had prevented the Irish parliament from passing a bill which would have alleviated Catholic grievances. Though the rebel forces failed in their attempt to seize Dublin Castle, they quickly found success at Ulster, whence the rebellion spread around the countryside. Following the outbreak of civil war between King Charles and the English parliament the next year in 1642, the rebel forces of Irish Catholics gave their support to the King, further placing them at odds with the English Protestants.



Responding to the acts of the Lords Justices, the Irish Catholics established their own council, the Catholic Confederacy at Kilkenny in 1642, as well as their own coinage during this rebellious period. Imitating royal designs, they halfcrowns, halfpence, and farthings – the so-called 'Blacksmiths' Money' due to their crude manufacture. Following these centrally-produced issues, many of the 'Cities in Refuge' joined in coining their own local minor currency, often cruder than the Blacksmiths Money or even appearing as a counterstamp upon another coinage.



By the excellent researches of Dr. Aquilla Smith we are now satisfactorily enabled also to assign to Kilkenny those silver pieces which from their rudeness of execution are known as " Blacksmith's Halfcrowns." They were struck at Kilkenny to the amount of 4,000 under the following ordinance of " The Confederated Catholics." November 15, 1642, ''the plate of this kingdom be coined with the ordinarie stamp used in the moneyes now currant."Hence it would appear that the coin so issued is the piece described below.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£800